Customer Reviews

Thunder & Lightning [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I loved this movie, I saw it first back in the theaters in 1977 when it first came out. I feel it's one of the best action movies around. It has action, comedy, great performaces. I've always liked Kate Jackson and David Carradine and they work great together. It's escapism and fun viewing on a Saturday afternoon. Buy you won't be disappointed.

This film had the misfortune of coming out in the summer of '77 on the heels of "Smokey and the Bandit". Guess which film has more posterity? I remember seeing this as a kid on a double feature with "The World's Greatest Lover" starring Gene Wilder and liked it immensely. The film's selling point is the car chases but they are secondary to the witty script which was written by William Hjortsberg, author of "Angel Heart". The Florida Everglades are utilized to great effect which adds to film's fantastic ambience. David Carradine and Kate Jackson have great chemistry and an easy charm that goes down as smoothly as honeydew. Enjoyable performance by Roger C. Carmel(Mudd from "Star Trek") as Ralph Jr., soft drink purveyor who dabbles in toxic moonshine distribution. Also of note is the presence of Charles Napier, veteran of Jonathan Demme films, as one of Ralph Jr.'s thugs. Bottom line this movie is Fun! Fun! Fun!

When I first saw this movie I thought what was Kate Jackson thinking?! When I re-watched it, I thought "They're just having fun so why don't you?" This movie really grew on me. The chemistry between Carradine and Jackson is pretty good. Jackson's accent is a hoot! Look out for some amazing stunts! Don't expect Shakespeare, just sit back, relax and have a rip-roarin' good time, I did!

Jackson. Hawai'i Five-0 vet Roger C.
Carmel is outstanding in here as Jackson's
dad. Longtime Carradine movie partner, C.
Napier is good in here as well as other
Hawai'i Five-0 vet, Ron Feinberg. Direc-
tion is only average and too much profa-
nity may turn some off. TV prints aleivate
that, but still this movie is underrated
and hard to find! I first saw it on video
rental in Roanoke, VA back in early '90's.
Like many I missed it in Theatre back in
'77 because of Smokey and the (overrated)
Bandit I. But this film is better than S.
A.t.B. II or III!

Awesome film, sorry to see the 57 Chevy get all beat up though. Great mid-70s movie, and Kate Jackson is pretty hot, a true angel. Ranks up there with all the boot-leggin' movies. Carridine was awesome, better than Kung Fu.

The movie doesn't have many special effects or a fancy set, but it does have a good plot. The many stupid gags almost make you laugh throughout the film. Favorite scenes... David takes Kate's braw off from under her shirt and them breaking hundreds of bottles of soda onto a parking lot.

No, Really.
I bought it as part of a fad I'm going through, looking for car flicks from the 70's. I knew this wouldn't be any Oscar winner, but YEESH! The story line was terrible, the acting about the same & other than the '57 Chevy, there was hardly any cool cars. :D
I did like seeing Kate Jackson as a youngster, though.

I just watched this and had a great time! Polyester, ridiculous dialogue, and fun car chases...what more could you ask for?? Most of the movie involves Kate Jackson (pre Charlie's Angels) tagging along with a young David Carridine as they try to catch up to a load of tainted moonshine followed by the law and gangsters, involving a lot of fun car chases and Keystone-cops antics. This film is a hoot! A precursor to Smokey And the Bandit, this is an obviously low budget romp directed by Roger Corman and stars several actors you will recognize, most notably Roger C. Carmel, who played Harry Mudd in two Star Trek episodes, and Sterling Holloway, who played the voice of the snake in the Jungle Book. If you like car chase movies in the vein of Dirty Mary Crazy Larry, Vanishing Point and White Lightning, this will make a fun addition to your collection. I laughed through the whole movie. Pop it in, crack open a Coors and enjoy the show!

I had mentioned that Corey Allen was directing this feature when Sal Mineo was murdered. The photography was terrible by whomever the photographer/cameraman was. Too many ECU's (extreme close-ups). If Corey could redo the film today, I'm sure it would be much better.

I bought it because it was one of David Carradine's feature films from a long time ago. Corey Allen was Buzz in REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE. That role finished his acting career. He was always associated with that role, as the bad guy who fought James Dean. But, his directing career was pretty successful. This should be a collectible just to have a piece of Carradine's work, now that he is gone. I was surprised to see this on Amazon. Practically at a give away price too.

Corey died a couple of months after Dennis Hopper. The last featured actor of the cast from REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE. He died from Parkinson's disease.

This movie is so awful it's laughable. Ever go to the movies and feel you were ripped off. I got this movie for rewards points and still feel ripped off. Yes, it's that bad. Kate Jackson never could act, she had one voice she repeatedly used, it's a cross between southern and whinney and by no means pleasing to hear. David Carradine is a better actor (only by a little bit) but the writing is so bad, he can't begin to save this miserable attempt at movie making either. I gave it one star, because there was no provision for minus 5 stars. It's an hour and a half you'll never get back. It's too late for me, but save yourself and don't buy this movie.